Rail

MARTA revises streetcar contract

The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) board of directors authorized a revised contract with URS Energy and Construction Inc. to design and build the Atlanta Streetcar that sets the total price for its work on the project at $59 million.

The original contract authorization was $52.2 million based on the preliminary design. The revised contract amount covers improvements to the project’s design and scope and also provides for an additional 7% contingency that could be used to cover unforeseen site conditions along the project route that may arise during construction. The revised contract amount will be paid from existing project contingency funds.

The improvements, which include new streetscapes, bicycle lanes and related amenities, will make the streetcar more convenient and accessible to the riding public when it’s completed next year.

Construction on the 2.7-mile transit loop in Downtown Atlanta is well underway. The vote by the board is the culmination of recent negotiations between URS and the local project sponsors, including MARTA, the City of Atlanta and the Atlanta Downtown Improvement District.

Since its inception, MARTA has served as technical advisor and designated grant recipient for $47.6 million in project funding awarded by U.S. Department of Transportation in 2010.

The Atlanta Streetcar is a key component of an integrated, high-quality transit network with direct access to MARTA’s Peachtree Center station and will eventually connect to the Atlanta BeltLine. The network will help link communities, improve mobility and promote economic development.

This contract includes high voltage cabling from the state grid for the new 16-mile metro line. Alstom is the main supplier of Kochi metro after it has been awarded previous orders for 25 Metropolis trainsets, signalling, telecom and electrification. Commercial service is scheduled to begin in March 2016.

The contract, which is for a ten-year period with the option to extend another 5 years, covers maintenance and spare parts on 74 four-car Class 357 ELECTROSTAR trains and is valued at approximately $213 million.

The train wreck, which occurred in the early morning of March 24, 2014, when the operator allegedly fell asleep, injured more than 30 people and caused roughly $9 million in damage. The lead railcar had to be cut up to remove it from the escalator.